Welcome to The Better Mom’s bi-weekly meal planning schedule!

As women striving to serve the Lord and our families better, meal planning is a wonderful strategy to help you provide a healthy,  home-cooked meal with the awesome added benefit  of saving time, money and stress!

In addition to the two meal plan charts below, is a list of links to many of the recipes featured.  Our hope is that this will be a great resource  and encouragement for you whether you’re just getting started with meal planning, or are a seasoned expert.

We’d also like to provide you with a free meal planning template perfect for creating your own weekly meal plans. Select from the following two options: • Meal plan template PDF • Meal plan template EXCEL

To learn more about meal planning, please check out: Mastering Meal Planning. To print the meal plans provided below, simply click on the images and they will open into a new window for easier printing.

Recipe Links for Week of December 24: (GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free (Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) • Dinner: Minestrone Soup(Gluten-Free Option), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Ranch Dressing(GF) • Dessert: Easy & Yummy Thumbprint Cookies(GF) • Lunch: Carrot-Cheddar(GF) Sandwiches and Pineapple Slices • Breakfast: Cinnamon Streusel Muffins(GF), Eggs Over Easy and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Tuesday, Dec 25 (Merry CHRISTmas!) • Dinner: Lemon-Garlic Chicken(GF), Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Buttermilk Biscuits • Lunch: Leftover Minestrone Soup, Rolls and Salad • Breakfast: French Toast Casserole, Nitrate-free Bacon and Mixed Berries

Wednesday, Dec 26 • Dinner: Taco Salad(GF), Crockpot Pinto Beans(GF) and Guacamole(GF), Lacto-Ferm Salsa(GF) and Cultured Sour Cream • Lunch: Leftover Roasted Chicken Sandwiches and Apple Slices • Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Biscuit Sandwich and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Thursday, Dec 27 • Breakfast for Dinner: Fluffy Almond Flour Pancakes(GF), Eggs Over Easy, Nitrate-free Sausage and Mixed Berries • Lunch: Cheese Quesadillas w/Leftover Guacamole(GF), Lacto-Ferm Salsa(GF) and Cultured Sour Cream • Breakfast: Greek Yogurt Banana Splits(GF) and Toast w/Butter

Friday, Dec 28 • Dinner: Shepherd's Pie(GF), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF) • Lunch: Nut Butter, Banana & Raw Honey Wrap(GF Option) and Vanilla Yogurt(GF) w/Diced Pears • Breakfast: Leftover Pancakes & Sausage

Saturday, Dec 29 • Dinner: Penne Pasta w/Meat Sauce and Garden Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF) • Lunch: Homemade Ramen Noodle Soup (I use homemade chicken stock instead of veggie broth) and Sourdough Rolls w/Butter • Breakfast: Cranberry Christmas Bread, Scrambled Eggs and Fruit Salad

Sunday, Dec 30 • Dinner: Baked Cod Fillets w/Lemon, Wild Rice and Steamed Veggies • Lunch: Leftover Pasta & Salad • Breakfast: Baked Apple Oatmeal(Gluten-Free Option) w/Walnuts and Poached Eggs

Recipe Links for Week of December 31: (GF)=Grain-free/Gluten-free (Gluten-free)=Gluten-free, but not grain-free

Monday, Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve) • Dinner: Grilled Herb Chicken(GF), Wild Rice and Green Beans • Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches and Homemade Applesauce(GF) • Breakfast: Healthier Cinnamon Toast(GF Option), Scrambled Eggs and Fruit Smoothie(GF)

Tuesday, Jan 1 (Happy New Year–2013) • Dinner: Stone Soup(GF), Sourdough Rolls w/Butter and Mesclun Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette(GF) • Lunch: Chicken Salad(GF) Sandwiches and Fruit Salad • Breakfast: Homemade Granola(Gluten-Free Option) w/Fresh Berries & Almond Milk

Wednesday, Jan 2 • Dinner: Homemade Fish Sticks(GF Option), Sweet Potato Fries and Buttered Peas • Lunch: Leftover Stone Soup, Rolls and Salad • Breakfast: Lemonberry Muffins(GF), Boiled Eggs and Homemade Applesauce(GF)

Thursday, Jan 3 • Dinner: Veggie Penne Sauté(Gluten-Free Option) and Mesclun Salad w/Honey-Mustard Dressing(GF) • Lunch: Avocado Egg Salad(GF) Sandwiches and Cucumber-Tomato Salad • Breakfast: Leftover Lemonberry Muffins(GF) and Eggs Over Easy

Friday, Jan 4 • Dinner: Veggie Stirfry(Gluten-Free) w/Leftover Grilled Chicken • Lunch: Leftover Pasta and Salad • Breakfast: Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits(Gluten-Free Option) and Boiled Eggs

Saturday, Jan 5 • Dinner: Personal Veggie Pizzas and Garden Salad w/Ranch Dressing(GF) • Dessert: Apple Streusel Cake(GF) • Lunch: Open-Face Tuna Salad Sandwich(GF Option) and Apple Slices • Breakfast: Cheesy-Basil Eggs(GF), Toast w/Butter and Nitrate-free Bacon

Sunday, Jan 6 • Dinner: Balsamic-Apricot Steak(GF), Scalloped Potatoes(GF) and Steamed Veggies • Lunch: BLAT (Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado & Tomato) Wraps and Homemade Applesauce(GF) • Breakfast: Nuts for Pumpkin Bread, Poached Eggs and Vanilla Yogurt(GF)

Wishing you and your family a very Merry CHRISTmas and especially blessed New Year! Joyfully Serving HIM, Kelly @ The Nourishing Home